There are a few requirements for creating the perfect space for our guinea pigs to live in so that they can make the most of their enclosures and live their best lives. Guinea pigs need a lot of space available to them 24/7 that is on one level, with appropriate space for zooming and popcorning as well as containing large hay piles and appropriate tunnels and hides.
How big does my guinea pigs enclosure need to be?
The minimum amount of space required to house guinea pigs will depend on the number of piggies with added companions resulting in the need for additional space. Boars can only be housed in pairs but sows can be housed in larger groups including the addition of a neutered boar. The minimum space required for 2-3 guinea pigs is a 5×2 C&C grid configuration with this increasing to a 6×2 C&C configuration for 4 pigs. This all needs to be on one level and appropriately safe for them to live in.
We suggest C&C enclosures which can be made to accommodate any number of piggies with their modular design, and for outdoor homes an appropriately insulated shed provides the necessary space. More information on both of these options can be found below.
Why does only one level count towards the total space of a guinea pigs accommodation?
Guinea pigs are land dwelling mammals that unlike some other small mammals are not adapted to climbing or using vertical space. Therefore they need a large flat space on one level that allows them to express normal behaviours including zoomies and the ever so cute popcorns. This is why only one level of housing counts towards the space they live in.
Loft areas or different levels often create great additions to an enclosure as enrichment but ramps are not accessible to all guinea pigs. Some just don’t like them and will refuse to use them while others may struggle due to older age or illness.
Ensuring a safe guinea pig enclosure
It is important that guinea pigs are safe in their accommodation at all times. This includes a few different aspects which all need to be thought about:
Ventilation
Guinea Pigs produce ammonia as a by-product of urination which can be irritating to their sensitive respiratory systems. Ammonia is a relatively heavy gas and so will sit at the bottom of their enclosures, it is therefore important to have appropriate sideways ventilation to limit their exposure.
Clean and dry
It goes without saying that guinea pig accommodation needs to be kept clean and dry with appropriate bedding choices impacting this greatly. Any possibility of damp areas or drafts need to be considered when choosing where to house your piggies whether this be an indoor or outdoor space. Outdoor spaces particularly need to be insulated and appropriately weatherproofed to be safe from wind and rain as well as excessive heat.
Protection from predators
As prey animals guinea pigs need to feel safe in their environment and this includes being safe from other animals. Indoors this may be keeping them safely away from any cats or dogs in the house while outdoors there is a whole host of animals to be concerned about. Outdoor sheds offer the best protection from rats, mice, outdoor cats, foxes and even birds that have the potential to do harm to guinea pigs.
Indoor guinea pig accommodation
The majority of off the shelf cages are far too small for any number of piggies. C&C cages offer a much more suitable space for guinea pigs and it can also be adapted to any space. These enclosures are made up of grids, connectors and then a waterproof base usually made of correx or proplex. The grids and connectors are modular so can be used to make many different layouts including L shapes or you can even create a stand. All C&C enclosures should be made from grids that are 35cm wide and have a grid pattern of 9×9 or vertical slats.
There are now several companies that offer packs with everything you need including Kavee, Cage Creations and others or as originally intended C&C cages can be made DIY. Other handmade options may also work well and will be considered on an individual basis for rehoming applications.
Opportunities for time outside of their main enclosure is also important. This may include play pens or free roam which of course should be guinea pig proofed to prevent any possibility of injury or harm.
Outdoor guinea pig accommodation
Traditional hutches are too small to create an appropriate space for our guinea pigs and they create a space that hinders the care that these animals need. Instead a shed offers much better floor space for the guinea pigs, you as their caregiver and the storage for all their necessities. Sheds are better at maintaining an environment clear of any damp or drafts and gives a space that encourages guinea pig and human interaction. Sheds will need to be appropriately maintained to ensure they stay weatherproof i.e. good roof and appropriate insulation but can be used in many different ways. Guinea pigs could have access to the whole of the floor space or in appropriately sized sheds C&C cages can be constructed within the shed.
As spoken about above it is important that these spaces are protected from the weather and other animals.
Access to grass
Both indoor and outdoor guinea pigs can benefit from access to untreated grass at specific times during the year. Guinea pigs are very close to the ground and so can not be on damp ground which limits the amount of time they are able to make use of grass spaces. Furthermore, guinea pigs cannot be moved between spaces with drastically different temperatures as this can cause thermal shock. This means piggies who are primarily indoors or in a specifically heated environment can not go outside until the temperature is similar to what they are used to, which is usually a minimum of 15 degrees celsius in spring time. This access needs to be in an appropriately secure run and with supervision because of the risk of predators.
Indoor vs outdoors for guinea pigs
Both indoor and outdoor spaces need to be set up appropriately with the initial investment for indoor spaces likely to be less than outdoor spaces especially if making a C&C yourself. Outdoor sheds will need appropriate insulation and you will likely need to offer additional resources such as heat pads and larger piles of hay to help keep piggies appropriately warm through colder temperatures.
Guinea pigs are prey animals and so hide signs of illness well so regular health checks including weight monitoring and observation of their behaviour and interactions is necessary to spot signs of illness quickly. Having them living in the same house as you can make this a little easier to see them and spend time with them than if they are outdoors. Guinea pigs will also become more comfortable around you the more time they see, hear and smell you which again can be slightly easier if they are indoors. However, sheds can help provide the space you and your piggies need to allow for these interactions to happen frequently.
Kitting out your guinea pigs enclosure
Now that you’ve built the enclosure for your guinea pigs, you’ve added your base and you’ve made sure that it is safe and secure for them, it’s time to begin furnishing it so that they can live happily and healthily. Below are some things you need to include within your guinea pigs enclosure:
Guinea pig enclosure liners
To keep your piggies sensitive feet comfortable and to keep their enclosure dry, you need to line the base using a liner. Reusable fleece bedding has become very popular as the preferred liner choice for many people and their guinea pigs. It is important to consider the quality of the liners you purchase which should have three layers sewn together. These layers are often a layer of absorbent material sandwiched between two layers of fleece that help to move the urine away from the piggies on top into the absorbent layer. Often the better quality liners are more expensive initially but will often last longer and work better overall. Fleece bedding needs to be regularly maintained including daily spot cleans where poo is collected and any soiled beds changed over.
Typically a deep clean is needed every 5-7 days depending on the quality of the liners and the number of piggies in a space. Any soiled fleece will need to be washed with unscented washing detergent in a washing machine with a pet laundry bag being extremely useful to protect the machine from hair and hay.
Both disposable and reusable bedding can be combined to create different areas within an enclosure. Disposable bedding could be used in trays or in one area of the enclosure underneath hay to absorb any urine. Or you could have fully one or the other.
Hay
Hay is extremely important for guinea pigs and needs to be accessible in large piles 24/7. Not only do guinea pigs need to continually eat hay for their gut and teeth health but it is an important part of their enrichment too. Guinea pigs love nothing more than burrowing, sleeping, foraging and toileting in their hay and large piles need to be provided daily. You can find out more information about hay in our guinea pig diet guide.
Tunnels and hides
As prey animals guinea pigs will bolt if they are scared and they need access to hides and tunnels that they can move to when scared. More than that, tunnels and hides provide cozy safe spaces to sleep in and run through. There needs to be a minimum of one hide per piggie in each enclosure. Hides and tunnels with more than one exit provide great spaces to run through as well as preventing piggies trapping each other in, which can create tension in their bonds.
There are many options for providing these spaces including soft fleece beds, tunnels and fleece forests with a personal favourite here being hammocks! Other options include wooden stick bridges, wooden castles and tunnels, hammock stands and cardboard boxes.
